IUPUI is Indiana's premier urban research university. The campus enrolls more than 30,000 students in 21 schools and academic units.
Dr. Thomas Fisher, PhD, OTR, CCM FAOTA
Department Chair & Associate Professor
Expertise: Case Management, Ergonomics, Industrial Rehabilitation, and Professional Education
317-278-6070
fishert@iupui.edu
Expertise: Case Management, Ergonomics, Industrial Rehabilitation, and Professional Education
317-278-6070
fishert@iupui.edu
Biography
Dr. Thomas Fisher is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Indiana University School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences in Indianapolis. Prior to this position, he served eight years as faculty in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY.
He was adjunct faculty with the University of Kentucky in the Department of Preventive and Environmental Medicine in the College of Medicine for five years. He has remained in clinical practice as an independent contractor, since assuming an academic career. This gives him 27 years in clinical practice.
He has consulted and contracted with healthcare employers, case management companies and agencies providing utilization review, consultation and case management.
Education
Fisher received his BS in OT from IU, his MS in Education from Purdue and an EdS in Educational & Counseling Psychology and PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Kentucky.
Professional
Fisher's area of expertise is industrial rehabilitation, ergonomics and case/disease management, as well as professional education & issues. He has served as a surveyor for the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in occupational rehabilitation programs for 14 years. He was one of two non-RN invited participants in establishing the 2000 Standards of Practice for Case Managers through the Case Management Society of America (CMSA).
He has over a dozen first author publications and co-author on some 15 additional manuscripts. In addition, he has written chapers in textbooks. Fisher was enrolled in the Roster of Fellows of the AOTA in 1994 for his leadership, continuing education initiatives and political activity.
In addition to being a CARF surveyor, he was a member of the Roster of Accreditation Evaluators for the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). He has been a surveyor for CARF for 17 years.
Publications
| Baldwin, T. M, Fisher, T. F. (2005). Case Management: Entry-Level Practice for Occupational Therapists? The Case Manager Journal, 16 (4), 47-51 |
| Fisher, T. F. (1989). Interdisciplinary Communications – A Must for the 1990’s. Occupational Therapy Forum, 4 (24), 7-8. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1992). OT Practitioners Benefit From Work of AOTA. OT Week, 6 (10), 46. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1992). The Importance of Effective Communication Cultivating a Professional Image. Occupational Therapy Forum, 3 (7). 21-28. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1993). Expanding Occupational Health Programs: Product Line Development, p. 122, Proceedings from Fifth National Symposium on Health Care Sales; Society for Healthcare Planning and Marketing, American Hospital Association, Chicago, IL. 113- |
| Fisher, T. F. (1993). Managed Healthcare: Is Rehabilitation Making the Paradigm Shift? National Association of Rehabilitation Facilities Symposium Proceedings, American Rehabilitation Association, Chicago, IL. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1993). Work Conditioning Is Not Work Harding. AOTA Work Program, Special Interest Section Newsletter, 7 (4). 6-8. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1994). Industrial Rehabilitation: A Natural Environment for Occupational Therapy Practitioners, WORK: Assessment, Prevention and Rehabilitation. 4, 259-263. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1995). CARF Redefines Work Hardening Category, VISIONS. National Association of Occupational Health Profession, 6 (3), 3. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1995). Lumbar Sacral Support Belts: Should Employers Require These In the Workplace? ASSE Division News-Healthcare. Summer Edition, 3-5. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1995). Occupational Therapy: The Focus Is On Function. Kentucky Medical News. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1995). The Contract On America. OT Week, 9 (33). |
| Fisher, T. F. (1996). Case Management: Do OT’s Have What It Takes? OT Week August. 6-9. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1996). Roles and Functions of a Case Manager. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 50, 452-455. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1997). Help AOTA Help You. OT Week, 11 (2). 11. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1997). Lumbar Sacral Support Belts Role in Back Injury Prevention. AOTA Work Programs Special Interest Section Newsletter, 11 (1). 1-5. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1997). Strategic Plan Committee Sets Objectives. OT Week, 11 (32). 9-12. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1998). Preventing Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders: An Approach to Employee Wellness, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Journal, 46, 296-301. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1998). Strategic Planning for the AOTA. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52, 785-788. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1999). Managing Our Limited Resource: Practitioners. Chapter in Functions of a Manager in Occupational Therapy. (3rd Edition), Edited by Karen Jacobs & Martha Logigian. Slack Incorporated. Thorofare, N.J. 81-91. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1999). Occupational Therapy: Focus Is on Functional Performance. Kentucky Medical News, 5. 4-9. |
| Fisher, T. F. (1999). Strategic Plan Update: OT in the Year 2000. OT Week, August 19, 1999. 2-3. |
| Fisher, T. F. (2000). Association Planning: A Critical Process. OT Practice, 10 (5), 9-12. |
| Fisher, T. F. (2000). Employment Preplacement Examinations & Occupational Therapy, (Lesson 6) Chapter in WORK: Principles & Practice. (Eds) B. Kornblau & K. Jacobs, Bethesda, MD: AOTA, Inc. 1-11. |
| Fisher, T. F. (2000). Perception differences among groups of employees in identifying the factors influencing a return to work after a work-related musculoskeletal injury. (unpuplished dissertation), University of Kentucky, Graduate School, Lexington, KY. |
| Fisher, T. F. (2003). New Era, New Challenges: Fostering Occupational Performance And Participation in the 21st Century. OT Practice, 8 (9). 21-25. |
| Fisher, T. F. (2003). Perception difference between groups of employees in identifying the factors influencing a return to work after a work-related musculoskeletal injury. WORK: Assessment, Prevention, and Rehabilitation, 21 (3), 211-220. |
| Fisher, T. F. (2007, accepted, in press). The Roles for an occupational therapist (Chapter in Occupational Therapy: Evidence and Competency Based Practice SLACK Incorporated). |
| Fisher, T. F., Bender, P. M. (1995). Medical inquiry for employment before and after ADA. Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Journal of Rehabilitation. 61 (4), 62-65. |
| Fisher, T. F., Brodzinski, B., Zook, S. (September, 2008, submitted, under review British Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation). Employee Perception of Injury Prevention Education from an Occupational Therapist |
| Fisher, T. F., Gibson, T. (2008). A Measure of Employees Exposure to Risk Factors for Work-related Musculoskeletal disorders in a University. American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Journal, 56 (3), 1-15 |
| Fisher, T. F., Konkel, R. S., Harvey, C. (2004). Musculoskeletal injuries associated with selected university staff and faculty in the office environment. WORK: Assessment, Prevention, and Rehabilitation, 22 (3), 195-205. |
| Fisher, T. F., Reed, D. (1996). Lumbar Sacral Support Belts: Their Role in Injury Prevention. Professional Safety, 41 (9), 24-28. |
| Fisher, T.F. and Crabtree, J. (June, 2008, submitted, under review American Journal of Occupational Therapy). Should Occupational Therapy Professional Education move exclusively to the Entry Level Doctorate (OTD)? |
| Keough, J., Fisher, T. F. (2001). Occupational-psychosocial perceptions influencing Return to work and functional performance of injured workers. WORK: Assessment, Prevention, and Rehabilitation, 2 (16), 101-110. |
| Kyler-Hutchison, P., Fisher, T. F. et al, (1996). Managed Care: An Occupational Therapy Source Book. AOTA Products, Bethesda, MD. |
| McGuire, M. J., Fisher, T. F., Reitz, M. P., et. Al., (1991). Physical Agents Modalities Task Force Report to the 1991 AOTA Representative Assembly, p. 1-26. Intercommission Council Report. AOTA. Bethesda, MD. |
Research
| Research Title | Projected Graduation |
|---|---|
| Computer Workstation Analysis: The Effect of an Occupational Therapy Intervention More Details |
May 2009 |
| A Qualitative Study of Professional Occupational Therapy Education: Then and Now More Details |
May 2008 |
| Occupational Therapy Practice in Indiana Public Schools More Details |
May 2008 |
| Effectiveness of Work Injury Prevention Education & Safety Training by an Occupational Therapist More Details |
May 2007 |
